Chapter 7 MCQ
Chapter 7 MCQ
1. Consumer surplus is the buyer's willingness to pay minus the seller's cost
2. If the demand curve in a market is stationary, consumer surplus decreases when the price in that
market increases.
3. If your willingness to pay for a hamburger is €3.00 and the price is €2.00, your consumer surplus is
€5.00.
4. Producer surplus is a measure of the unsold inventories of suppliers in a market.
5. Consumer surplus is a good measure of buyers' benefits if buyers are rational.
6. Cost to the seller includes the opportunity cost of the seller's time.
7. The height of the supply curve is the marginal seller's cost.
8. Total surplus is the seller's cost minus the buyer's willingness to pay.
9. Free markets are efficient because they allocate output to buyers who have a willingness to pay that is
below the price.
10. Producer surplus is the area above the supply curve and below the price.
11. The major advantage of allowing free markets to allocate resources is that the outcome of the
allocation is efficient.
12. Equilibrium in a competitive market maximizes total surplus.
13. The two main types of market failure are market power and externalities.
14. Externalities are side effects, such as pollution, that are not taken into account by the buyers and
sellers in a market.
15. Producing more of a product always adds to total surplus.
Multiple Choice
Identify the letter of the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
18. If a buyer's willingness to pay for a new Honda is €20,000 and she is able to actually buy it for
€18,000, her consumer surplus is
a. €18,000.
b. €20,000.
c. €2,000.
d. €0.
e. €38,000.
19. An increase in the price of a good along a stationary demand curve
a. improves the material welfare of the buyers.
b. decreases consumer surplus.
c. improves market efficiency.
d. increases consumer surplus.
20. Suppose there are three identical vases available to be purchased. Buyer 1 is willing to pay €30
for one, buyer 2 is willing to pay €25 for one, and buyer 3 is willing to pay €20 for one. If the price is €25,
how many vases will be sold and what is the value of consumer surplus in this market?
a. Three vases will be sold and consumer surplus is €80.
b. One vase will be sold and consumer surplus is €5.
c. One vase will be sold and consumer surplus is €30.
d. Three vases will be sold and consumer surplus is €0.
e. Two vases will be sold and consumer surplus is €5.
22. If a benevolent social planner chooses to produce less than the equilibrium quantity of a good,
then
a. total surplus is maximized.
b. the value placed on the last unit of production by buyers exceeds the cost of production.
c. producer surplus is maximized.
d. the cost of production on the last unit produced exceeds the value placed on it by buyers.
e. consumer surplus is maximized.
23. If a benevolent social planner chooses to produce more than the equilibrium quantity of a good,
then
a. the value placed on the last unit of production by buyers exceeds the cost of production.
b. the cost of production on the last unit produced exceeds the value placed on it by buyers.
c. consumer surplus is maximized.
d. total surplus is maximized.
e. producer surplus is maximized.
27. Adam Smith's "invisible hand" concept suggests that a competitive market outcome
a. maximizes total surplus.
b. generates equality among the members of society.
c. minimizes total surplus.
d. both maximizes total surplus and generates equality among the members of society.
28. In general, if a benevolent social planner wanted to maximize the total benefits received by buyers
and sellers in a market, the planner should
a. choose a price below the market equilibrium price.
b. allow the market to seek equilibrium on its own.
c. choose any price the planner wants because the losses to the sellers (buyers) from any change in
price are exactly offset by the gains to the buyers (sellers).
d. choose a price above the market equilibrium price.
30. If a producer has market power (can influence the price of the product in the market) then free
market solutions
a. are equitable.
b. are efficient.
c. maximize consumer surplus.
d. are inefficient.
33. Medical care clearly enhances people’s lives. Therefore, we should consume medical care until
a. everyone has as much as they would like.
b. the benefit buyers place on medical care is equal to the cost of producing it.
c. buyers receive no benefit from another unit of medical care.
d. we must cut back on the consumption of other goods.
34. Joe has ten pairs of football boots and Sue has none. A pair of football boots costs €50 to produce.
If Joe values an additional pair of boots at €100 and Sue values a pair of boots at €40, then to maximize
a. efficiency Sue should receive the glove.
b. efficiency Joe should receive the glove.
c. equity, Joe should receive the glove.
d. consumer surplus both should receive a glove.
35. Suppose that the price of a new bicycle is €300. Natalie values a new bicycle at €400. It costs €200
for the seller to produce the new bicycle. What is the value of total surplus if Natalie buys a new bike?
a. €500
b. €300
c. €200
d. €400
e. €100